Pin wheel register



Dec. 22, 1942. w. c. PFEIFFER PIN WHEEL REGISTER 4 Sheets-sheaf. 1

Filed Feb. 6, 1.941

WILLIAM C. PFEIF'FER,

cum-

1942- w. c. PFEIFFER PIN WHEEL REGISTER Filed Feb. 6, 194] 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 T sf ww w C M m L M w Dec. 22, 1942.

W. C. PFEIFFER PIN WHEEL REGISTER Filed Feb. 6, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jrwm WILLIAM C- PFEIFFER,

- Dec. 22, 1942. w, PFEIFFER 2,305,988

PIN WHEEL REGISTER Filed Feb. 6, 1941 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 73 8! 82 I; I E J" 4 5 72 70 T 77 5 n Iwm'roR WuuMLPrurFe BMW, ,1 5

Patented Dec. 22, 1942 PIN WHEEL REGISTER William C. Pfeifi'er, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The Egry Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 6, 1941, Serial No. 377,715

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an apparatus for feeding a plurality of paper webs through a machine Which produces multiple copies of a form, the invention more particularly relates to a feeding mechanism for such a machine, and a mecha nism for aligning adjacent forms upon the paper Webs.

It is an object of the invention to provide a paper feeding mechanism for a multiple copy form reproducing machine, wherein a plurality of needles are successively advanced into engagement with the paper webs passing through the machine for feeding the same therethrough, and to provide means for aligning the paper webs when the needles are released therefrom.

It is another object of the invention to provide a needle feeding mechanism in a paper handling machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a needle feeding mechanism in a paper handling machine in combination with a form aligning mechanism, which form aligning mechanism functions when the needle feeding mechanism is out of engagement with the paper being fed through the machine.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for feeding and aligning a plurality of paper webs through a paper handling machine, wherein needle feeding mechanism feeds the paper webs through the machine in regular increments, and the aligning mechanism aligns the paper webs at the end of each increment of feed.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a feeding and aligning mechanism for a paper handling device wherein a plurality of webs is associated with the machine, said webs being pre-folded to form a pack, said aligning mechanism being arranged to align said webs by engagement with the fold line thereof.

It is another object of the invention to provide a needle feeding mechanism for a paper handling machine which has a paper aligning mechanism associated therewith in a manner that the aligning mechanism engages the paper while the needles are out of engagement therefrom.

It is another object of the invention to provide a needle feeding mechanism for advancing paper over a platen.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method for aligning a plurality of adjacent and reversely folded paper webs by forcibly engaging the fold line thereof.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an autographic register which is arranged to have a plurality of paper webs associated therewith which are in adjacent relation and are folded reversely at spaced intervals, said register having an aligning mechanism which forcibly engages the fold line in the webs for aligning the same.

'It is another object of the invention to provide an autographic register in accordance with the foregoing object wherein a needle feeding mechanism is associated with the aligning mechanism in a manner that the aligning mechanism functions to align the adjacent webs when the needle feeding mechanism is out of engagement with the webs.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a method for feeding a plurality of paper webs through an autographic register by means of a needle feeding mechanism, and of associating an aligning mechanism with the needle feeding mecharn'sm in such a manner that the align- 1 ing mechanism will align adjacent paper webs between feeding increments.

It' is still another object of the invention to provide an aligning mechanism associated with an autographic register wherein the aligning de- 5 vice forcibly engages the fold line of the paper webs fed through the register while in the feed opening thereof.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an aligning mechanism for an autographic register of a type handling a plurality of adjacent paper webs which are reversely folded into pack form, said aligning mechanism forcibly engaging the fold line of the webs when said fold lines pass through the feed slot in the register.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and from the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of an autographic register embodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the autographic register of Figure 1 having the top cover removed therefrom.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional View taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a partial'view of the feeding and aligning mechanism shown in Figure 3, with the mechanism in position for beginning the aligning operation.

Figure 5 is a partial view of the mechanism shown in Figure 3, with the mechanism shown in a position which completes the aligning operation.

Figure 6 is a perspective view looking in an upwardly direction into the mechanism shown in Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a perspective View looking upwardly into the mechanism of a modified arrangement of the feeding and aligning device.

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding device disclosed in Figure '7, showing the aligning pin about to enter the paper webs.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of the feeding device disclosed in Figure '7, showing the aligning pin in position for aligning adjacent paper webs.

Figure 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the feeding wheels of Figure 3, showing the manner in which the feeding needles pierce the paper webs for feeding the same through the machine. I

Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view, somewhat diagrammatic, of a billing machine showing the feeding and aligning mechanism applied thereto.

The feeding and aligning mechanism of this invention has been particularly applied to use in connection with an autographic register. However, it will be understood that the mechanism is applicable to any paper handling machine wherein accurate control over the movement of the paper through the machine and the control over the alignment of a plurality of adjacent paper webs is desired. The principal form of the invention combines the features of the needle feeding device of the invention with a paper aligning mechanism. It can readily be seen that these mechanisms can be used independently of each other, or in cooperation as disclosed herein. The mechanism for aligning a plurality of adjacent paper webs, when operatively associated with the needle feeding mechanism, is arran ed to enga e the paper webs when the needle feeding mechanism is out of enga ement therewith. Bv arran ing the associated mechanisms in this manner the adjacent paper webs are free to move with respect each other so that the aliening mechanism can shift the webs with respect each other for placing the webs in proper register.

The mechanism of this invention is particularly ada ted for use in those machines wherein a mult p icity of cop es is made from sheets having similar facsimile, the mechanism being .arran ed to feed the adiacent pa er webs through the mach ne and for ali ning the same to brine. the facsimiles of the webs into proper re ister w th respect each other.

In this invent on the auto raphic re ister consists of 'a case In having a bottom wall llqend wa ls l2. and side walls l3 and M. A writin table is pivotallv mounted upon the side walls l3 and I4 about the pivot pins l6 and IT. This writ n table I5 is a ranged to lie in a horizontal pos tion to substantially close the top of the case "I. and is support d upon the pins l1 secured to the side walls l3 and I 4. A top cover plate l8 closes the remaining portion of the case In, and is supported by means of the pins l9 secured to the side walls l3 and I4. U-shaped brackets 20 are secured to the cover plate l8 for osit onin the same upon the pi s S.

The cover plate I8 is spaced a substant al distance from the writing table !5, and has a divider plate 2| secured thereto, the edge of which is positioned in close proximity to the edge of the writing table l5. The divider plate 2| is provided with slots 22 through which the needles of the paper feeding mechanism extend for engaging the paper webs as they are fed through the machine. The writing table I5 has a feed slot 23 arranged transversely in the table l5 through which the paper webs extend for feeding through the register. A top cover plate 24 is pivoted to the side walls I3 and M by means of the pivot pins 25. This top cover 24 has a writing opening 26 which is arranged to expose a form to be written upon. The cover plate 24 is spaced from the writing table I5 to permit a plurality of paper webs forming a pack 21 to pass therebetween. The web pack 21 extends beyond the tear-off edge 28 provided on the top cover 24, the tear-01f edge 28 being positioned adjacent the end of the closure plate l8 whereby the divider plate 2| is enclosed within the casing Hi.

The case ID has a compartment 29 positioned therein in which the web pack 21 is placed. The web pack 21 is of the type having a plurality of paper webs which are loosely positioned adjacent each other, and are reversely folded at periodic intervals to provide a stack of multiple form copy pads which are arranged in a continuous web. The form faces of the copy pads are provided with the proper printed matter thereon, and in order to produce multiple copies upon said form pads it is required that the adjacent forms on adjacent webs shall be retained in proper register. Such a web pack arrangement provides a continuous web having transversely extending fold lines at periodically spaced intervals, and which can be fed through an autographic register in a continuous web form. The stack of prefolded forms is placed in the compartment 29 and the web pack 21 is threaded through the feed slot 23 and positioned between the writing table l5 and the top cover 24. The web pack 21 projects beyond the tearoff edge 28 provided on the top cover 24. 'When threading the web pack 21 through the machine the bottom sheet thereof is positioned below the divider plate 2| whereby'the bottom sheet of the web pack 21 will be directed downwardly into the case [0 as indicated at 21a so that a copy of each of the forms is retained within the register.

The mechanism for feeding the web pack 21 through the register consists of a pair of wheels 30 which are provided with a plurality of needles 3! around the major portion of the periphery thereof. A portion of the periphery of the wheels 30 is not provided with the needles 3| and may be termed a free area, as indicated at 32. The wheels 30 are fixedly mounted upon a shaft 33 which extends between suitable bearing members 34 mounted in the side walls l3 and i4 respectively. A guard plate 52 extends around a portion of the perimeter of the wheels 30 to partially enclose the needles 3|. The upper edge 53 of the guard plate 52 provides means for stripping the copy form 2Iafrom the needles 3| and the wheels 30.

The shaft 33 extends through the exterior of the register. An operating handle 35 is secured to the end of the shaft 33 for manually rotating the wheels 30.

The periphery of the wheels 30 is positioned immediately adjacent the divider plate 2|; the needles 3! extending through the slots 22. Since the web pack 21 passes over the divider plate 2| the needles 3| will pierce the Web pack 21 when the wheels 30 are rotated, whereby the web pack 21 will be forcibly discharged through the tearoif opening 28.

The handle 35 is limited to a single rotation thereof by means of a plunger 36.. The plunger 36 is normally retained in an outwardly extending position by means of a spring 31. To release the handle 35 for rotation, the plunger 36 is forced inwardly whereupon the handle can be rotated until it again strikes the plunger 36. This arrangement provides a mechanism for removing the web pack 21 from the machine in regular increments so that the forms, printed upon the face of the web, are brought intoproper register withthe writing opening 25.

As previously mentioned the paper webs of the web pack 27 are assembled in adjacent relation in a loose manner, that is, there are no points of adherence between. the respective Webs. It can thus be seen that a suitable mechanism is desirable for preventing the facsimile of the adjacent webs from falling out of register when the web pack 2'! is fed through the machine. To provide an aligning mechanism for the web pack 2'! an L-shaped plate 38 is carried upon the writing table l by means of the pins 39. The plate 38 is provided with slots 40 which extend around the shank of the pins 39 to permit the plate 38 to reciprocate with respect the supporting pins 39. The pins 39 have enlarged heads 4| upon which the plate 38 is supported in its adjacent relation to the writing table l5. The forward end of the plate 38 is bent upwardly and then horizontally to elevate the front edge 42 into substantial alignment with the feed slot 23 provided in the writing table l5. This front edge 42 is adapted to substantially close the feed slot 23 and forcibly engage the web pack 21 for aligning the same as will be hereinafter described.

The plate 38 is provided with a depending ear 43 in which there is positioned an adjusting screw 44. A cam 45 is secured'upon the shaft 33 and is thus arranged to be rotated concomitant with rotation of the feeding wheels 30. This cam 45 has an eccentric portion 46.

A slide bar 4! is carried upon the pins 48 mounted in the side wall M of the casing ID. The slide bar 4? has slots 49 positioned therein which engage the shank of the pins 48 and permit the slide bar 41 to be reciprocated thereupon. The enlarged heads 55 of the pins 48 position the slide bar 47 with respect the side wall M. .The slide bar 41' has an upwardly extending arm 5| which is arranged to engage the adjusting screw 44 as will be hereinafter described.

The cam 45 has the periphery thereof in engagement with the slide bar 41 to thereby move the same upon rotation of the cam 45. The eccentric portion 46 of the cam 45 is arranged in the proper association with the feeding wheelsv 3!] so that when the free area 32 of the wheels 3|) is adjacent the divider plate 2|, the eccentric portion. 46 of the cam will move the slide bar 41 to cause movement of the plate 38, whereby the forward end 42 of the plate 38 will substantially close the feed opening ,23 in the writing table 55. This association of mechanism is such that the plate 38 will forcibly engage the web pack 2'? after the needles 3| of the feed wheel 35 have released the web pack 21 to cause the web pack 2'! to be forcibly returned a slight amount by the forward edge of the plate 38 and bring the same into substantial engagement with the rear edge of the feed opening 23. Since the free area 32 is adjacent the divider plate 2|, the web pack 2'! will be entirely free for movement within the register so that reverse movement of the web pack 21 by means of the aligning plate 38 shifts the adjacent webs with respect each other to obtain proper registration of. adjacentform, faces.

' To produce a plurality of copies upon the. ad-' jacent webs one ormore rolls. of carbon paper 54 are carried within the casing l0. These rolls 54 are supported within a. housing 55 secured to the side wall 3, the'roll 54 being carriedupon the housing. 55 by means of the shaft 56. The carbonpaper 54 is adapted to be threaded transversely of the register and between adjacent paper webs, the carbon paper extending beyond the. wall l4. so that the operator can grasp the, carbon paper 54 to cause a new area thereof to traverse the machine and be brought into register with the writing opening 25. This arrangementis conventional for autographic registers of the type herein disclosed.

The operation of the device is as follows. A pack of pre-folded formsv consisting of a plurality of continuous paper webs reversely folded at periodical intervals is positioned within the compartment 29. The web pack 21 is threaded. over an idler roller 51 and through the feed opening 23 in the writing table l5. The web' pack .2!v is drawn across the writing table l5 beyond-the tear-01f edge 28 of the top cover plate 24. The top cover 24 is then placed in position, as shown in Figure 3, to confine the paper web between the writing table l5 and the cover plate 24. When the cover plate 24 is placed in position the web stack 21 will be in a position with respect the feeding wheels 30 that the needles 3| thereof can pierce the web pack for moving the same through the machine.

In order to position the pack in proper relation with the feeding and aligning mechanism, and with respect the writing opening 26, the handle 35 is rotated until the feeding and align ing mechanism is brought into the position disclosed in Figure 5. At this time the eccentric portion 46' of the cam 45 will have driven the slide bar 41 to its extreme right-hand position and thus the forward edge 42 of the aligning plate 38 will be in its closest relation with respect the rear edge of the feed opening 23. At this time the top cover plate 24 will be lifted from the writing table |5 so that the web pack 21 will be out of engagement with the feed wheels 30 and can be manually shifted so that a transverse fold of the web pack is in engagement with the front edge 42 of the aligning plate 38..

The closure plate l8 can then be positioned within the front portion of the casing |0 whereby the divider plate 2| will be positioned above the bottom copy of the web pack. The bottom copy of the web pack is thus threaded between the divider plate 2| and the feeding wheels '30 and over the top edge 53 of the guard plate 52, the bottom copy thus being directed into the casing H]. The remaining copies of the web pack will remain on top of the closure plate I 8.

The cover plate 24 may then be closed, whereby the web pack will be retained in close proximity to the divider plate'2l so that the needles 3| on the wheels '30 can pierce the web pack for forcibly moving the same through the machine. The cover plate 24 can preferably be provided with grooves 58 into which the end of the needles can extend to insure complete piercing of the web pack.

The relation of the web pack to the mechanism of the machine after being threaded will be as disclosed in Figure 5. When the handle 35 is rotated slightly to complete its revolution and engage. the stop pin 36, the eccentric portion 46 of the cam 45 will leave theslide bar 41, while at the same time the needle 3|, which is immediately adjacent theweb pack 21, will pierce the web pack for driving engagement therewith.

When the record form is to be removed from the machine the plunger 36 will be moved inwardly to permit rotation of the handle 35. The wheels 30 will be rotated and the needles 3| thereof will pierce the web pack 21 to forcibly move the same through the machine. The mechanism is so calculated that upon a predetermined portion of a complete revolution of the handle 35 a single form copy will be ejected from the machine. The interval of rotation through which the needles 3| engage the web pack 21 determines the length of the web pack which will be ejected from the machine. This movement of the web pack is so calculated that when the last needle 3|a is out of engagement with the web pack the next successive fold line in the pack will be positioned in the feed slot 23.

As will have been previously noted there are no spring returns upon either the slide bar 31 or the aligning plate 38, the ejection movement of the web 21 being depended upon to retract the slide bar 41 and the aligning plate 38 into their proper position with the slide bar 41 in engagement with the cam 45, this operation oc--' curring during the ejection motion of the predetermined length of web 21.

When the last needle 3| a leaves the web pack 21, upon rotation of the wheels 30, the eccentric portion 46 of the cam 45 will begin its engagement with the slide bar 41 to drive the same in a rightward direction. This position of the feeding and aligning mechanism is substantially that shown in Figure 4, wherein the last needle 3|a is just ready to leave engagement with the web pack 21 and the eccentric portion 48 of the cam 45 is just ready to drive the slide bar 41 in the rightward direction. At this point it will also be noted that the transverse fold line 21b.

in the web pack is within the feed slot 23 and is positioned slightly ahead of the rear wall thereof. When rotation of the handle 35 is continued the eccentric portion 46 will drive the slide bar 41 to the right, the extending arm 5| thereof engaging th adjusting screw 44 carried by the plate 38, whereby the plate 38 will bedriven in'a rightward direction. It may thus be seen that the forward edge 42 of the plate 38 will engage the fold lin 21b of the web 21 and drive the same in a rightward direction. Since at this time the free areas 32 of the feed wheels 30 are adjacent the divider plate 2|, it can be seen that the adjacent paper webs are free to shift with respect each other so that forcible engagement of the fold line by the forward edge of the aligning plate 38 will bring all of the folded edges of the adjacent web members into proper registration. Since the webs have-been manufactured and prel'olded in their proper relation it can readily be seen that the aligning plate 38 will thus realign adjacent form faces on the webs by rearrangement of the fold lines thereof.

The front edge 42 of the aligning plate 38 can be adjusted in position with respect to the rear edge of the feed slot 23 in order to bring the front edge 42 into close proximity therewith. Such adjustment is provided by the adjusting screw 44, the position of the head thereof with respect the arm 5| controlling the reciprocatory movement. of the Plate38. The adjustmentef the plate 38 thus provides means for controlling the degree of closing of the slot 23 when the number of sheets passing through the feed slot 23 is changed.

-To insure that the transverse fold line 21b of the web pack 21 will always be in a position whereby it can be forcibly engaged by the ali ning plate 38, the needles 3| on the feed wheels 30 are arranged to slightly overfeed the web with respect the feed slot 23. Such overfeeding positions the transverse fold line 21b of the web 21 toward the front or left-hand edge of the feed slot 23, as shown in Figure 4, when the needle 3|a releases the web pack 21. This overfeeding of the web pack 21 insures that the aligning plate 38 will forcibly engage the transverse fold line of the web pack and move the same in a rightward direction thereby producing a shifting of the adjacent webs of the web pack at their fold lines to realign the same.

In Figure 11 the aligning and feeding mechanism is shown as applied to a billing machine. In this arrangement the machine consists of a typewriter 68 which is carried upon the slide bars 6| which are in turn supported by longitudinally extending supporting rods 62. The rods 82 are carried upon the wheels 63 which are mounted upon a track 64. This arrangement of the typewriter permits longitudinal and transverse movement thereof over a platen 65, the typewriter 58 being of the type adapted to operate vertically against the horizontal platen 65.

A multiple copy Web pack 66 is positioned within a compartment 61 and is adapted to be threaded through a feed opening 68. The web pack 68 extends longitudinally across the platen 65, and has the end thereof positioned between the platen 65 and a guide plate 69. One or more feeding wheels 18 having needles H is mounted upon a shaft 12. The Wheels 10 have their peripheries adjacent the guide plate 69 so that the feeding needles H can pierce the web pack 66 for forcibly drawing the same through the machine.

A cam 13 is associated with the wheels 18, which cam is of similar configuration to the cam 45 previously described, and has the same operative association with the wheels 10 as the cam 45 has with the wheels 36.

A web aligning plate 14 is slidably carried by the pins 15 in the same manner as the slide bar 41 is carried by the pins 48. The aligning plate I4 is provided with a front edge 16 which is positioned within the feed slots 68 and reciprocates within the feed slot 68 in the manner of the guide plate 38 with respect the feed slot 23.

A rod 11 is slidably carried upon the supporting brackets 18. One end of the rod 11 engages the cam 13 while the opposite end thereof engages an adjusting screw 19 carried by the depending ear 88 of the aligning plate 14. A spring 8| is arranged to retain the bar 17 withthe left-hand end thereof in engagement with the cam 13.

The association of the feeding and aligning mechanism of the billing machine functions in identically the same manner as the mechanism heretofore described with regard Figures 1 to 5 inclusive. In this modification however the mechanism is arranged to be fed electrically rather than manually.

The mechanism for driving the feeding and aligning mechanism of the billing machine consists of a pair of cooperating tapered gears 82 and 83, the gear 82 being mounted upon the shaft 12 while the gear 83 is mounted upon a shaft 84 extending from a clutch mechanism 85. The clutch feeding wheels 92 the Web pack 90 will be released mechanism 85 is of the type which when tripped is adapted to revolve a single revolution and then disengage, such single revolution clutches are well known and thus the clutch 85 is not described with any particularity; An operating lever 86 is disposed on the side of the clutch mechanism 85 for tripping the mechanism to produce its cycle of operation. An electric motor 81 drives the clutch mechanism through a shaft extending therefrom, which motor can either be operated continuously or by means of a manually controlled switch mechanism. When the operator desires to feed the web 66 through the billing machine, the clutch lever 86 is moved to trip the clutch mechanism 85 whereby the gear 83 drives the gear 82 to thus rotate the feeding wheels l0. Operation of the feed wheels 10 places the feeding and aligning mechanism through the same cycle of operation as heretofore described with regard to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, it being understood that the web pack 66 is' of the pre-fOlded type having transverse fold lines at periodic intervals therein.

In the form of the apparatus disclosed in Figure 11, the web pack 66 is arranged to b fed longitudinally of the billing machine, and the conventional manual transverse feeding of carbon sheets between adjacent paper webs is associated with the'web 66 for renewing the carbon between the webs in the conventional manner.

In the form of the apparatus disclosed in Figures 7- to 9 inclusive, the device'for aligning adj acent webs of paper is carried by the feeding wheels.

In this form of the apparatus the adjacent paper websforming the web pack 90 are provided with spaced holes adjacent the edges thereof. These holes 91' are perforated into the webs at the time of manufacture and of printing the face of the web. The holes 9| in adjacent webs forming the web pack 90 are arranged to be in alignment when the web pack is in its assembled relation.

The feeding wheels 92 of the arrangement shown in Figures 7 to 9 are provided with the needles 93 around the major portion of their periphery. Inthe freearea 94 thereof there is positioned an aligning'pin 95.

A. backing plate 96 is positioned adjacent the peripheries of the wheels 92 and is provided with a slot 97 therein within which the needles 93 and and the aligning pins 95 are adapted to rotate. The-slot 91 insures complete piercing of the web 90 byv the needles 93 for forcibly advancing the web 90 through the machine with which the feeding and aligning mechanism is associated.

In this form of the invention the wheels 92 are arranged adjacent the edges of the web pack 90 so that the. aligning pins 95 can enter the holes 9! to properly align theadjacent webs of the web pack 90. As shownin Figure 8, the needle 93a is, just ready to leave the web pack 90 while the aligning pin 95 is just ready to enter the holes 9| provided in the adjacent webs. As is shown in Figure 8, the holes 9| in the adjacent webs are slightly out. of alignment, thus indicating that the adjacent webs and the form printed on the faces thereof are slightly out of register.

When the wheels, 92 are rotated to carry the aligning pin 95 to the position indicated in Figure 9 it will be seen that the adjacent webs forming the web pack 90 will be brought into proper register. The occurrence of the alignment of the adjacent webs being occasioned while the free area 94 is adjacent the web pack, it can thus be seen that onceduring each revolution of the 7s from engagement with the feeding needles 93 so that the aligning pins 95 are free to shift the adjacent webs of the web pack to bring the same into proper register.

It will be understood by those versed in the art that the mechanism of this invention is applicable to any machine wherein multiple copies of a form is to be reproduced, and wherein there is the necessity for retaining alignment or registration of adjacent form faces. It will also be understood that the feeding and aligning mechanisms are not interdependent mechanisms but can be used separately in combination with some other feeding or aligning mechanism.

It is therefore within the purview of this application to include those mechanisms which require mechanical changes but which fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A paper feeding mechanism comprising a writing table, a slot in said Writing table, a plate slidably carried by said table and having the end thereof extending into said slot, a feeding mechanism comprising a plurality of needles arranged to be lineally advanced with respect said table, said feeding mechanism having a portion thereof which is not provided with said needles, mechanism interconnecting said plate and said feeding mechanism, means on said feeding mechanism for operating said interconnecting mechanism, the association of the mechanisms being arranged in a manner that said plate substantially closes said slot when the portion of said feeding mechanism which does not have the needles therein is positioned adjacent said writing table.

2. A paper feeding mechanism comprising a writing table, a slot in said writing table, a plate slidably carried by saidtable and having the. end thereof extending into said slot, a feeding mechanism comprising a plurality of wheels having their peripheries adjacent said writing table, a plurality of needles in a portion of the periphery of said wheels, a cam member associated with said wheels and arranged to be driven thereby, a slide bar interconnecting said cam member with said plate, said cam member causing movement of said slide bar and thus said plate in one direc tion to substantially close said slot when the free area of said wheels is adjacent said writing table.

3. In a machine for producing multiple copies of a form upon adjacently positioned paper webs, means for feeding a plurality of adjacently positioned webs through the machine comprising spaced wheels having their peripheries adjacent one of the webs, a plurality of needles extending radially from a portion of the periphery of said wheels for piercing said Web, means for rotating said wheels, and mechanism for aligning adjacent webs, said mechanism being operated concomitantly with positioning of the free areas of said wheels adjacent the webs to shift the webs with respect to'one another only when said needles are completely out of engagement therewith.

4. In a machine for producing multiple copies of a form upon adjacently positioned paper webs, feeding means disposed adjacent the surface of one of said webs carrying a plurality of evenly spaced needles for piercing said webs and feedingvthe same through the machine, means positioned adjacent the opposite side of said webs to engage the same and aid said needles to pierce said webs, said feeding means having a portion of the length thereof void of needles, means for moving said needle carrying means to advance the webs through the machine, and means for aligning adjacent webs when said void portion of said feeding means is adjacent said webs.

5. In a machine for producing multiple copies of a form upon adjacently positioned paper Webs which are reversely folded transversely at regular intervals and are adapted to be fed through the machine in pack form, movable means having needles for perforating said web pack for feeding the same through said machine in single form increments, said movable means having a portion thereof void of needles, mechanism for aligning adjacent forms on said webs comprising means for engaging the transverse fold of said web pack, and means actuating said aligning means for engaging said fold lines of said web pack concomitant with positioning of said void portion of said movable means adjacent said Web pack whereby adjacent webs are aligned.

6. In an apparatus for producing multiple record forms, means for feeding the record forms through the apparatus including a plurality of needles arranged in sequence to be brought into successive engagement with the record forms for feeding the same through the apparatus, said feeding means having a portion thereof void of needles and adapted to be disposed adjacent the record forms when the feeding of a form is completed, and means arranged to be brought into engagement with said record forms when released from said needle feeding means for aligning said forms.

'7. In an apparatus for producing multiple record forms, a feeding wheel for moving the record forms through the apparatus and having the periphery thereof adjacent one of said webs, a plurality of needles in a portion of the periphery of said feeding wheel arranged to pierce said webs for advancingthe same through the apparatus, means for rotating said wheel to feed a predetermined length thereof and position said needles out of engagement with the webs, and aligning means engaging said webs for alignment thereof upon said needles releasing said webs.

u. in an apparatus 101 producing multiple record forms from a plurality of adjacently posi-- tioned webs which are reversely folded transversely at regular intervals to form individual record sheets, means for feeding said webs through said machine com-prising a feeding member positioned adjacent said web pack and having a plurality of needles over a portion of the perimeter thereof for piercing said webs, means for advancing said feeding means for moving said webs through said machine, mechanism for aligning adjacent web forms including means for engaging the fold line of said record forms to restrain the same against advancement through said machine, and means actuated by said feeding means for actuating said aligning mechanism to force said fold line engaging means into engagement with the fold line of the record forms concomitant with positioning of the free area of the feeding member adjacent the paper webs, whereby said webs are freely moved with respect to one another by means of the fold line for proper alignment thereof.

9. A machine adapted to produce a plurality of record forms upon paper webs which are reversely folded transversely at regular intervals and arranged to be fed through the machine in 7 pack form, comprising a writing tabla-movable feeding means having a plurality of needles ona portion of the perimeter thereof, said feeding means being positioned adjacent said writingtable to permit said needles to-extend through said writing table for piercing, the record sheets, means for moving said feeding meanswith respect to said writing table ,for advancing the webs through the machine, a feeding slot in said writing table through which the record forms extend for advancement over the writing table, an aligning mechanismincluding means for engaging the fold lines of. the webs while within the feed slot,and means for actuating the aligning mechanism to substantially close said feed slot upon a fold line of the webs concomitant with the positioning of the free area of the feeding member adjacent the writing table to align said webs.

10. A machine adapted to produce a plurality of record forms upon paper webs which are reversely folded transversely at regular intervals and arranged to be fed through the machine in pack form, comprising a writing table, movable feeding means having a plurality of needles on a portion of the perimeter thereof, said feeding means being positioned adjacent said writing table to permit said needles to extend through said writing table for piercing the record sheets, means for moving said feeding means with respect to said writing tablev for advancing the webs through the machine, a feeding slot in said writing table through which the record forms extend for advancement over the writing table, an aligning device carried by said writing table for engaging the fold lines of the webs and associated with said slot for substantially closing the same, and means operatively interconnecting said feeding member with said aligning device to move said aligning device to substantially close said feeding slot upon a fold line of the webs when the free area of said feeding member is adjacent the writing table.

11. A machine adapted to produce a plurality of record forms upon. paper webs which are reversely folded transversely at regular intervalsand arranged to be fed through the machine in pack form comprising a writing table, movable feeding means having a plurality of needles on a portion of the perimeter thereof, said feeding means being positioned adjacent said writing table to permit said needles to extend through said writing table for piercing the'record sheets, means for moving said feedingmeans with respect to said writing table for advancing the webs through the machine, a feeding slot in said writing table through which the record iorms extend for advancement over the writing table, an aligning device carriedby said writing table for engaging the fold lines of the webs and associated with said slot for substantially closing the same, means operatively interconnecting said feeding member with said aligning device to move said aligning device to substantially, close said feeding slot upon a fold line of the webs when the free. area .of saidfeeding member is adjacent the writing table,- means operatively interconnecting said feeding member and said aligning device, and cam means car-- interconnecting means whereby said aligning device 1s operated to engage a fold line: of the ried by said feeding memberfor engaging said ment over said writing table, feeding means ad- 10 jacent the end of said writing table opposite said feeding slot, said feeding means having a plurality of needles in a portion of the perimeter thereof and arranged to extend through said writing table for piercing the record form web 1;

pack, means for moving said feeding means for advancing the web pack, an aligning plate reciprocably associated with said feeding slot for engaging a fold line in the web pack passing therethrough, means operatively interconnecting said aligning plate with said feeding means, operation of said feeding means causing reciprocation of said aligning plate to engage a fold line of the webs upon positioning of the free area of said feeding means adjacent said Writing table, said alignirg plate thereby forcibly engaging the fold line of said record form web pack to shift the webs with respect to one another and align said Webs while the same are released from said needles.

WILLIAM C. PFEIFFER. 

